WELLINGTON, Fla.--Nick Dello Joio on Cornet's Cambridge won the $75,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round X CSI4* on March 17
Nick Dello Joio on Cornets Cambridge (Photo by Sportfot)A large field of 70 competed over Michel Vaillancourt’s first-round challenge with eight going clean, three Irishmen, three Americans, Beat Mändli as the lone representative for Switzerland, and Ben Maher as the solo contender for Great Britain.
Nick Dello Joio was one of three U.S. riders in the jump-off, and was clean and fast on Cornet’s Cambridge to finish in 37.87 seconds, two seconds ahead of the closest challenger.
“He is not the type of horse that would ever catch your eye in a smaller class, but he is extremely intelligent and he knows when to kick it in to gear,” said Dello Joio. “He’s naturally very careful so he makes it easy to get ahead of yourself. I have taken it slow with him since coming to Florida and wanted to build him up."
“Today’s course was difficult and a lot of the growing pains I have had with this horse have come from trying to do too much,” he said. “He is so brave and careful that he really prefers it when the rider stays out of his way and doesn’t try to help him. I decided to just let him jump around how he was most comfortable today and clearly it paid off.”
“I WAS trying horses in Switzerland and, when I was trying a different horse, saw him in the barn,” said Dello Joio. “I was told he wasn’t for sale, but I asked for a price anyway, and after several days of communicating I was able to try him. I took him off property when I went to try him the second time, and he just came alive. Between that experience, and his show record, I was sold. I had a good feeling about him, and he was probably one of the best decisions I’ve made.”
Ireland was strong with Mark McAuley on Jasco VD Bisschop placing second, the only other clean in the jump-off in 39.63, while Jordan Coyle was third on Centriko Volo, the fastest four-fault score with a time of 36.56 seconds.
Coyle on Carlyle won the $6,000, 1.40m CSI4* over 53 competitors, going clean in 33.68 seconds tobeat Alberto Michan’s time of 33.76 seconds.
